The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a case against a 20-year-old college student who messaged his female classmate on Instagram, ruling that using “Gen Z lingo” in a private chat does not amount to criminal behavior. Justice M. Nagaprasanna emphasized that complimenting a classmate privately should not lead to charges like stalking or outraging modesty.
The incident involved a friendly exchange between the student and his 21-year-old classmate, both attending the same college. The student had messaged her, calling her “pretty” and “beautiful” in what the Court described as contemporary language. The conversation was later disclosed to the complainant’s father, prompting the filing of an FIR against the student.
During the proceedings, Justice Nagaprasanna highlighted that the conversation was private and the language used was typical of modern students. The Court stressed that a private compliment should not be misconstrued as criminal conduct, protecting the student’s future from unnecessary legal implications. Consequently, the FIR was quashed, and all seized materials were ordered to be returned to the student.
